Motor mounts won't line up?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1985 Trans Am
Engine: 385
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 4.10
Motor mounts won't line up?
Didn't know where else to put this at.
Previous owners of my 85 TA have always had problems lining up the left front motor mount. Some people have had to ratchet strap it in place. This hasn't been a one time deal, the car has had more motor swaps than sets of tires. Each time was the same problem.
I also noticed that my right front sets at 27.5" while the left front sets at 28.0". (ride height from ground to fender)
Could I possibly have a bent K-member? The car was wrecked in '86 in the right rear, and does have a kink in the sump by the spare tire well, but that shouldn't have effected the K-member. So would that mean that my whole car is ****ed? It runs and drives perfect, never had a problem with alignment, only problem is getting the one motor mount to line up.
Any help would be appreciated. Yet another motor is going in soon and I want to be able to take care of the problem before I have to fight the motor into place.
Previous owners of my 85 TA have always had problems lining up the left front motor mount. Some people have had to ratchet strap it in place. This hasn't been a one time deal, the car has had more motor swaps than sets of tires. Each time was the same problem.
I also noticed that my right front sets at 27.5" while the left front sets at 28.0". (ride height from ground to fender)
Could I possibly have a bent K-member? The car was wrecked in '86 in the right rear, and does have a kink in the sump by the spare tire well, but that shouldn't have effected the K-member. So would that mean that my whole car is ****ed? It runs and drives perfect, never had a problem with alignment, only problem is getting the one motor mount to line up.
Any help would be appreciated. Yet another motor is going in soon and I want to be able to take care of the problem before I have to fight the motor into place.
#4
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1985 Trans Am
Engine: 385
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 4.10
Re: Motor mounts won't line up?
I will... whenever it stops snowing! Just dumped about 5" on us tonight with more to come over the weekend.
#5
Supreme Member
iTrader: (14)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 12,652
Likes: 0
Received 46 Likes
on
44 Posts
Car: 86 Trans Am, 92 Firebird
Engine: 408 sbc, 3.1L of raw power
Transmission: TKO600, T5
Axle/Gears: Moser 9", 3:70 trutac, 3:23 torsion
Re: Motor mounts won't line up?
They are usually hit or miss. its a bit harder on a stock k-member, but if you loosen the mounting bolts for the mount on the k-member, it will help some.
#6
Member
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: new york , n.y. , USA
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes
on
10 Posts
Car: klowny1969 <-youtube 4 3rd gen vids
Engine: subscribe to klowny1969 on youtube!
Transmission: subscribe to my channel on youtube
Re: Motor mounts won't line up?
you do know that motor mounts can only be installed one way right? that would cause the issues that ur having also
#7
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1985 Trans Am
Engine: 385
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 4.10
Re: Motor mounts won't line up?
The last 3 owners each installed different motor mounts. The last one was a professional nutswinger for GM. I honestly don't think they would install them backwards, but I will check anyway. Thanks
Trending Topics
#9
Member
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: new york , n.y. , USA
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes
on
10 Posts
Car: klowny1969 <-youtube 4 3rd gen vids
Engine: subscribe to klowny1969 on youtube!
Transmission: subscribe to my channel on youtube
Re: Motor mounts won't line up?
no problem..ive seen alot of "proffessionals" screw alot of things up.. take your mounts and swap them around..im willing to bet its ur issue
#10
Supreme Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Guilford, Connecticut
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 1988 IROC-Z camaro
Engine: 355 TPI
Transmission: tko 500
Axle/Gears: Dana 44 3.31 posi pbr brakes
Re: Motor mounts won't line up?
Nah thats not his issue. You can swap mounts around (the clamshell part at least) and still bolt the motor down. I did it until i realized i had em backwards and had to swap them with the motor in the car. Not fun. But yes the motor will bolt down with them swapped.
Im going to think a bit different than everyone else and ask if the trans was ever replaced or taken out at some point. I wonder if they didnt get it just right when they bolted it down. If its too far forward it could cause problems lining up mounts. Again ask me how i know that one lol.
Im going to think a bit different than everyone else and ask if the trans was ever replaced or taken out at some point. I wonder if they didnt get it just right when they bolted it down. If its too far forward it could cause problems lining up mounts. Again ask me how i know that one lol.
#11
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1985 Trans Am
Engine: 385
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 4.10
Re: Motor mounts won't line up?
Nah thats not his issue. You can swap mounts around (the clamshell part at least) and still bolt the motor down. I did it until i realized i had em backwards and had to swap them with the motor in the car. Not fun. But yes the motor will bolt down with them swapped.
Im going to think a bit different than everyone else and ask if the trans was ever replaced or taken out at some point. I wonder if they didnt get it just right when they bolted it down. If its too far forward it could cause problems lining up mounts. Again ask me how i know that one lol.
Im going to think a bit different than everyone else and ask if the trans was ever replaced or taken out at some point. I wonder if they didnt get it just right when they bolted it down. If its too far forward it could cause problems lining up mounts. Again ask me how i know that one lol.
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: IL
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 86 Trans am ws6
Engine: 355
Transmission: Th350
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Motor mounts won't line up?
The left motor mount bracket is shorter than the right one. they look identical except bolt hole height. I just went through this.
#13
Re: Motor mounts won't line up?
It's still possible or the motor mount locations have weakened. I always stress STRENGTH with the Third-Gen. There are a lot of areas to improve the rigidity of the cars that should always be taken. Believe it or not, some motors can make so much power they can twist the cars up pretty bad. So it's even possible the engine has torqued over to the left side over time. haha
#14
Supreme Member
iTrader: (15)
Re: Motor mounts won't line up?
It's still possible or the motor mount locations have weakened. I always stress STRENGTH with the Third-Gen. There are a lot of areas to improve the rigidity of the cars that should always be taken. Believe it or not, some motors can make so much power they can twist the cars up pretty bad. So it's even possible the engine has torqued over to the left side over time. haha
#15
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1985 Trans Am
Engine: 385
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 4.10
Re: Motor mounts won't line up?
Well, the previous owner did have a 600RWHP 383 stroker in it
Owner before that had a 480RWHP 406.
It's not like the suspension hasn't been worked over first though, tubular SFC's, tubular control arms, spohn torque arm/panhard bar etc etc... everything except for springs and shocks. Damn thing rides as stiff as a rod.
I will be tearing the car apart in about a month to replace the motor and tranny, and maybe tear it down even more to get it painted
Owner before that had a 480RWHP 406.
It's not like the suspension hasn't been worked over first though, tubular SFC's, tubular control arms, spohn torque arm/panhard bar etc etc... everything except for springs and shocks. Damn thing rides as stiff as a rod.
I will be tearing the car apart in about a month to replace the motor and tranny, and maybe tear it down even more to get it painted
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
NBrehm
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
0
08-05-2015 07:57 PM